LAS CRUCES, N.M. – University of Idaho swimmers and divers opened their new year on the right note with records, bests and wins.

Divers Paige Hunt and Mairin Jameson each won one of the diving events and freshman Rachel Millet continued her winning ways by winning the 50, 100 and 200 free races and swimming a leg of the winning 400 free relay.

For Hunt and Jameson, however, it was a special meet. Hunt not only broke Idaho’s 17-year-old 3-meter diving record, she qualified for zones with her winning 292.43. Jameson won for the first time as a collegian when she captured the one-meter event with a personal best 248.43.

The disappointment, though, was host New Mexico State won the Western Athletic Conference dual, 171-125.

“There were some really great things, some not so good and a whole lot in-between,” coach Mark Sowa said. “We came out of the gates a bit stale but did make some good adjustments in the second half of the meet. Unfortunately, to race a team of this caliber you can’t miss opportunities when they present themselves.”

Senior Katie Hendricks drew praise for her effort in the grueling 500 free, as did sophomore Lyndsay Williams (200 free, 200 IM) and junior Kelsie Saxe (100 and 200 breast, and 200 IM).

“We will continue to work on swimming a great meet from top to bottom as we prepare for the WAC (championships),” said Sowa, whose team will be at home next Saturday against Oregon State (UI Swim Center, 11 a.m.).